No other tree conifer native to the United States surpasses the hemlock in grace and beauty.
Canada And Carolina Hemlocks
This is especially true of the Canada and Carolina hemlocks, both widely grown throughout this country except where hot, dry sun proves a limiting factor, where they never should be planted.
Both species are native to the eastern coast of North America;
- The Canada hemlock is distributed widely over the Northeast.
- The Carolina hemlock occurs naturally in a small area in southwestern Virginia and Georgia mountains.
Two other species, which do not do well in the East, are native to our western coast.
But here, only the adaptable Canada and Carolina hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis and Tsuga caroliniana) are specifically discussed.
Adaptable And Diversified Species
The Canada hemlock is the most adaptable and diversified species of all, with more than 50 known variants, although very few of them are grown commercially.
It is a forest tree, and specimens more than 500 years old have been known to exist.
The species is valued commercially for its light wood used in construction work and bark, which is sought after by the leather industry for its high tannin content.
It is slightly hardier than the Carolina hemlock, although the latter is just as serviceable and perfectly hardy as far north as Boston.
Hemlocks: Evergreen Trees
Both the Carolina and Canada hemlocks are evergreen trees with small needles about ¾” inch long, which are retained for 3 or 4 years.
- Needles of the Carolina hemlock are somewhat whorled around the branches.
- The Canada hemlock is more or less two-ranked, making a much flatter spray.
The Indians used to boil the cinnamon-red bark and then pound it, making a poultice from the pasty residue.
This was not poisonous!
Poisonous Hemlock
The poisonous “hemlock” potions that killed Socrates and many other ancient people were made from a European herb (conium), somewhat similar to our wild carrot or Queen Anne’s lace.
Hemlock’s Most Attractive Feature
The hemlock’s extremely graceful pyramidal habit is one of its most attractive features.
Main branches may be slightly upright when young, but as they grow older and heavier.
They straighten to the horizontal and finally, in (Wier specimens, bend towards the ground, producing the charming pyramidal form in (Wier specimens).
Hemlock In A Moist Soil
The hemlock does best in rich, moist soil.
There it is always fast-growing and, in 10 years, can be expected to develop into a 15-foot tree in the vicinity of Chicago. and does even better in parts of the East.
It is easily moved from the wild if properly root-pruned a year or in advance. You can help newly transplanted trees by ample watering.
44659 by Donald Wyman